Penguins on Parade

The last week of the month is a great time to review songs that you have learned.  This is when I like to use seasonal activities.  Copy, color and cut out several penguins.  I've included a penguin (my daughter is an artist) that you can use or you can look for one on "Google" under "penguin clip art.  If you want to review one song, make word strips of the phrases from the song and tape them to the back of the penguin.  Place the penguins on the floor or in a basket.  Let the children take turns choosing a penguin.  Read the phrase and sing the song or verse.  The child holds the penguin until he or she hears the phrase. He then tapes the penguin on the board in the penguin parade.  By the end of singing time there should be a parade of penguins on the board.  You can cut out white or silver pieces of paper to look like ice for the penguins to stand on.  If you are reviewing several songs, tape the title on the backs of the penguins instead of phrases.  The child can then tape his penguin on the board.

"I Will Follow God's Plan"

A rebus is a picture or symbol that represents a word, part of a word or phrase.  These are fun for all ages but especially helpful for non-readers -- junior primary specifically.  With free clip art available on the internet, finding pictures for songs has become much easier.  I use "Google" to find pictures.  An example is: type in the Google space "flashlight free clip art."  Up comes many examples of flashlights or web sites to go to and find more examples.  In the February "Friend," p. 11, "I Will Follow God's Plan," there is a perfect example of teaching a song using rebus.  It was fun to watch the children figure out what the pictures stood for.  I displayed all the pictures in random order on either side of the black board.  I sang the first phrase, then the children chose the pictures that best fit the phrase and we put them in order in the middle of the board.  We all sang the phrase twice.  We did the same process for each phrase always singing the new phrase then the whole song.

The Friend

If you are working in Primary you need to subscribe to The Friend!  If you don't have the magazine, check out the Church website.  There are great ideas there, as well.  On page 11 in the 2011 February Friend, there is a great idea for teaching "I Will Follow God's Plan."  Check out this site:  Friend.lds.org

Matching Game - If I Listen With My Heart

You will need 8 pieces of paper of two different colors (16 pieces in all)  On on color of paper write the first 8 phrases -- one phrase per paper:

1. If I had been a little child
2. I can hear His words of Peace
3. I hear a living prophet speak
4. The prophet teaches ho to live
5. He comforts me in times of need
6. He testifies of Christ
7. He speaks to me in quiet ways
8. I hear the Savior's voice

On the second color of paper write the following words -- one per paper:

1. First Verse
2. First Verse
3. Second Verse
4. Second Verse
5. Third Verse
6. Third Verse
7. Third Verse
8. Chorus

Make sure that you cannot see the words from the back side.  (You may want to mount the papers on another piece of paper -- construction paper works well.)  On the board (or wall) tape the first 8 papers on one side face side towards the board.  On the other side tape the other 8 papers face side towards the board. The children will take turns turning over one paper from one side and matching to the correct verse on the other side of the board..  Sing each verse after each match.

You can make it a little easier by taping the verses facing out and taking turns turning over the phrases to match with the verses.

Winter Wonderland

Regardless of your location, snowflakes and snowmen can make a fun singing time in January and February.  I am using this activity as a way to reinforce what we have learned.  Make several snowflakes.  On the back tape word strips from the song you want to review.  I chose "If I Listen with My Heart."  Because I have all the words on the computer, it is easy to print and cut the song into word phrases.  I am putting "chorus" on one snowflake so we can sing it once. I am using two phrases from each verse, so I will have one phrase per snowflake -- that equals 6, plus one snowflake for the chorus.  I will also put this statement on 3 or 4 more snowflakes: "Tell one thing you love about Primary."  This adds some variety to singing time.  Choose children to pick a snowflake that you have taped up around the room.  Sing the verse that the phrase comes from.  Pick another snowflake.  Continue singing the verse that the phrase comes from or tell what is wonderful about primary.  If time permits, sing the entire song to close singing time.

When I explain the activity, I give an example of how we will sing the verses and what I think is wonderful about Primary, just so the children understand.

Snowflakes:

1. Cut several circles - varying sizes  (keep them at least 6 inches in diameter or larger)
2. Fold in half, then in thirds -- snowflakes are 6 pointed
3. Cut small triangle, diamond, circle or any other shapes out on the folded sides and outer edge.  Be sure to cut the tip in a arc or triangle so the middle has an interesting shape.
4. Open up the paper and there you have a beautiful -- or at least a creative snowflake.

No matter how they turn out, the children will love them.  You can also make square and rectangle shaped snowflakes, too.  (If you have grade school children, they might like to do this project for you.)  If you choose to laminate them, they will last for years.

Memory Game

I'm working on memorization of "If I Listen with My Heart."  One of my memory activities is to write the entire song on the chalk or white board.  We sing it through.  Then I erase a couple of words or a phrase or line and then sing it again.  Depending on the time, I erase two or more phrases at a time or just a few words.  We sing it all the way through after each time something is erased.  By the end of singing time the song will be totally erased and should be memorized.  I like to sing it for the closing song to "seal" it in their brains. 

"If I Listen With My Heart" variety in singing

In an earlier post I gave some suggestions on teaching "If I Listen With My Heart."  Here is an extended activity in learning this song.  I printed each verse out and pasted each verse on a separate piece of construction paper and the chorus is on a separate piece.  I put each verse up on the black board, including the chorus.  We sang through the song.  Then I asked the children how we could make it more dramatic or more listenable instead of just singing it through.  We eliminated going fast and slow -- but we could slow down (ritardando) at the end.  They came up with dynamics - loud and soft.  So we talked a little about where it would be good to sing soft and loud, where we could gradually get louder or softer and marked it next to the words.  As we sang it through with the dynamics, the children were excited to hear how wonderful it sounded. 

I made several cards with "f" for forte (loud), "p" for piano (soft), "ff," "pp," "mp," - mezzo piano (moderately soft), "mf," "crescendo" - gradually get louder, "diminuendo" - gradually get softer and "ritardando" gradually slow down.  I laminated them all because I use them a lot.  This also helps the children learn the correct musical terms.  We have fun using these especially when the children hold them up as we are singing a song.  We all have to be watching so we know how to sing.